Game prices could be on the rise

[Great Rumbler]

With the cost of making games and speculative next-gen console prices ever rising, many have mused about the possibility of higher game prices, one that looks more likely. Activision CEO Robert Kotik, in Investor's Business Daily, recently suggested raising their game prices by around $10. Says Mr Kotik:

"We haven't raised prices as an industry in 20 years," Kotick commented. "Look at the movie business as an analogy. You're not getting any more hours of entertainment -- it's the same two hours of a motion picture -- and yet you're spending twice as much as you did 10 years ago."

Any increase by the publisher in games' prices would naturally be reflected by retailers' price tags. Generally games cost $50, so an increase to even $60 is possible. And such an action by a third party as large as Activision could prompt other publishers to do the same.

Game prices, as a general rule, have been steadily falling over the years - this would mark a significant change.

It needs to go back down to $40, not up to $60. GAMES COST TOO MUCH!!

[OB1]

They were more expensive before the 32-bit era. N64 games were expensive, too.

I think this might be a good thing in the long run, if only because developers will be forced to make cleverer, cheaper games instead of just throwing tons of cash at big crappy projects (read: EA). Maybe. This certainly falls in line with Nintendo's predictions.

[A Black Falcon]

I keep hearing 'game prices might rise', but the opposite seems to have happened over the last few years... N64 games were quite expensive often and now almost nothing starts at over $50. And many games start as low as $20. So I doubt this... oh, it's possible for a few games, but not as a pattern, I think.

Eventually, someday, game prices will rise I'm sure. But soon and across the board? Doubtful.

Anyway, not all industries go up in price... look at computers themselves! Cheaper than they were a decade ago.

[Great Rumbler]

I remember when I got Sonic 2 just after it came out and it cost over $80!

[lazyfatbum]

Chrono Trigger was 80 bucks.

But the thing is, I can buy a 200 million dollar film for $16.95 plus tax. There's no reason a video game should be 50 bucks.

[Great Rumbler]

Around here a movie is between $4-$6.50 depending on when you see it. And there's another movie theater that has slightly older movies for $1 and on somedays it's 50 cents.

[OB1]

Movies make most of their bucks in the theater, though. That was one of the things Will Wright (or was it Warren Spector?) was talking about at E3, how the industry can only make money through this one specific venue. With movies there's the theater, dvd, tv, etc. Games have to be bought through Best Buy or wherever.